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Turkey Day Deals

Samy's had an ad on the back page of the LA Times sports section today. I created a very rudimentary jpeg with the highlights for the folks that frequent this thread.

40D
It's not a great lens, but the (extra) 75-300mm lens added to the 40D kit (body + 17-85mm) is a great deal. This 40D kit normally is 1599.99, so you score the "extra" lens for 100 bucks. They seem to go for $160-200 on ebay, so you can sell it to circumvent the purchase. Throw in the Samy's $100 gift card, and things get really interesting.

Rebel XTi
Costco has the same kit (minus the 17-300) for $699.99 (from $799.99 with $100 mail-in rebate). Again, the best bet seems to be Samy's deal. $849, sell the 17-300 (150-200) plus the $50 gift card, you now have a great entry level DSLR kit for around $719-759. Use that $50 gift card towards some other accessories.

Another kick ass thing about Samy's sale this weekend is the freebies: tripod, bag, and an instructional DVD with coupons. They're not going to be top notch anything, but for newbie, they're necessary.

If you're in market for a replacement or new to the hobby, this weekend looks like a good time to do it!

I'm not sure if these specials are online as well, so here is a link to their locations:

Good price on the D300 and that $149 55-200 VR lens is a steal (though it isn't their most recent version of their vibratio-reduction tech).

I'm still mulling over the new D300 body. For me (since I'd buy the battery holder/vertical grip), it will mean $2200 tax included. Save up twice again as much and it's the D3. On the other hand, the D200 I have is great, and I could really use a couple more fast lenses for it (particularly a wide-angle, like the 14-24 f/2.8G ED).

In any case, it'll be a couple months at least.

Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Bullets are cheap. Life is priceless.

Good price on the D300 and that $149 55-200 VR lens is a steal (though it isn't their most recent version of their vibratio-reduction tech).

I'm still mulling over the new D300 body. For me (since I'd buy the battery holder/vertical grip), it will mean $2200 tax included. Save up twice again as much and it's the D3. On the other hand, the D200 I have is great, and I could really use a couple more fast lenses for it (particularly a wide-angle, like the 14-24 f/2.8G ED).

In any case, it'll be a couple months at least.

I think that Samy's actually advertised the D300 at all surprised me, disclaimer or not.

But I feel ya' on the D300. Adding the grip, you're at $2273 with tax, $2100. In a few months, I bet you could get a D3 for 4 1/2 stacks. If I had an inventory of Nikon glass, and a D200 already, I'd wait it out also.

I just read a review this afternoon in the December issue of PCPhoto (on my flight between LAS and IND) about the D3. It's got the full-size sensor, so it's compatible with all Nikon lenses. But with the DX lenses, it automatically crops the image sensor down to DX size. When it does this, the effective megapixels drops to 5.1MP. That kinda sucks.

Because of that, I may just opt for the D300 and the battery-grip with another lens.

But then again, I only have one DX lens (the fisheye).

Last edited by FBJ; November 23rd, 2007 at 04:37 PM.

Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Bullets are cheap. Life is priceless.

I just read a review this afternoon in the December issue of PCPhoto (on my flight between LAS and IND) about the D3. It's got the full-size sensor, so it's compatible with all Nikon lenses. But with the DX lenses, it automatically crops the image sensor down to DX size. When it does this, the effective megapixels drops to 5.1MP. That kinda sucks.

Because of that, I may just opt for the D300 and the battery-grip with another lens.

But then again, I only have one DX lens (the fisheye).

See? Full frames aren't what they're cracked up to be.

I got the 40D kit special from Samy's. I can't use the $100 gift card until December 1.

Fortunately, the Sandisk rebate runs until 1/5/2008. This will allow me to pickup (2) 4GB Extreme IIIs for about $5 for both after the rebate and gift card!

It looks like most of the stores got their first shipments of D300s on Tuesday or Wednesday--enough to cover waiting lists and allow for limited stock. What I have heard about it is positive so far. I will have mine next week sometime. Should have bought it local and I would have it already!

It looks like most of the stores got their first shipments of D300s on Tuesday or Wednesday--enough to cover waiting lists and allow for limited stock. What I have heard about it is positive so far. I will have mine next week sometime. Should have bought it local and I would have it already!

Of course, a full review (including pictures...especially low-light, high ISO ones) is requested.

Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Bullets are cheap. Life is priceless.